e2e.bike

Cycling adventures across Yorkshire, Britain and beyond

Menu
  • End to Ends
    • Britain
    • Ireland
    • France
    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Luxembourg
    • Denmark
    • Germany
    • Austria
    • Switzerland
    • Czechia
    • Slovakia
    • Poland
    • Latvia
    • Cuba
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Isle of Man
    • Faroes
    • Liechtenstein
  • Coast to Coasts
  • Yorkshire Ridings
  • Others
  • Writings
Menu
← PreviousNext →

Quirky London 20: The centre is a horse’s bum

Posted on 20 February 20102 April 2021 by Rob Ainsley

Where is it? Trafalgar Square, at the top of Whitehall, at the statue of Charles I, just under his horse’s bum.

What’s quirky about it? It’s London’s very centre: the point to which a ‘distance to London’, notionally, is measured. It’s the origin of the national roadmap; England’s kilometre-zero. The point used to be marked (from 1290 to 1647) by Eleanor’s Cross, a replica of which now stands in front of Charing Cross Station, a few yards east. You can comfort yourself with the thought that, whichever direction you head from this point, you’re getting away from London.


Why bike there? This point is unique in that from a single point, you can see both the seat of the monarchy (Buckingham Palace), the seat of government (the Houses of Parliament), and the seat of a horse. You’re right by Traf Sq too, of course, and you know what that means: you’ll spend the next quarter of an hour finding a cycle rack.


View Larger Map

Previous
←   Quirky London 19: Follow a ley line
Next
Quirky London 21: A bit of Cambridge →

You are here

e2e.bike > Other > Quirky London > Quirky London 20: The centre is a horse’s bum

Recent Posts

  • Earth works: The art of Wolds bridleways 21 June 2026
  • Drift to Driffield: Yorkshire Cycle Festival’s new home 15 June 2026
  • Patient progress: Turning hospital visits into rides 22 May 2026

Random Posts

  • W2W 1: Barrow to Kendal23 October 2012
    The Walney to Wear, aka W2W, is the most obscure of the …
  • C2C 3: Alston to Consett22 May 1997
    The hardest day, up to the highest point on the C2C (606m), …
  • Tile Maps 4: Driffield29 October 2024
    These are exciting times for Tile Map fans. The ceramic wall charts …

Search e2e.bike

Find me

        
Facebook • Bluesky • Linked In • Email
© 2026 e2e.bike | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme